W. A. Brülhart enters the Hall and turns to the audience.
Later the other two suitcases arrived also. More memories were stirred by their arrival, such as the cultural activities of the Swiss Embassy and Pro Helvetia (Arts Council of Switzerland) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In their cultural activities they pursued, and continue to pursue, the following objectives:
The reconstruction of cultural institutions in Sarajevo
Most of Sarajevo’s cultural institutions were badly affected by the war: intellectuals and artists fled abroad, many died and important cultural monuments were destroyed.
Besides the reconstruction of the economy, a reconstruction of culture was and is necessary to save the "soul and the multicultural nature of Sarajevo and BaH" and consequently its identity, in the spirit of a quotation from Jean Monnet: "If I were to begin again, I would begin with culture."
Some examples of Swiss projects producing lasting benefits are:
- The renovation of the National Gallery
- The restoration of Hodler pictures
- Chess games in public spaces
- Training for piano-tuners
Projects with a deliberately multi-ethnic dimension / Cultural exchange in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and former Yugoslavia
The Embassy and Pro Helvetia were and are attempting, through the projects which I will mention in a moment, to build bridges between the different ethnic groups. The cultural exchange projects could also be implemented thanks to the support of the Federal Department of Defence and the yellow beret unit in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- The Swiss-Bosnian cultural centre, known as "The Meeting Point", in Sarajevo
- Urs Altermatt’s history book "Das Fanal von Sarajevo": translation and seminars for students
- Children’s book by Franz Hohler and Dieter Leuenberger: "Der Urwaldschreibtisch" (or The Jungle Desk): translation
- Theatre exchange between Sarajevo/Mostar and Belgrade (in 1997/ 98 for the first time in seven years)
- The first joint exhibitions by an artist from Sarajevo and an artist from Banja Luka in Sarajevo since the outbreak of the war. The two artists were invited to Switzerland in mid-1998 by Pasqu’ART Biel.
Swiss-Bosnian cultural exchange
The cultural policy of the Embassy and the Pro Helvetia Foundation was and is based on the two-way track principle. The promotion of cultural exchange is an objective which was carried out through the following projects, among others:
Swiss artists and institutes working on a cultural exchange programme between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland:
- Franz Hohler and Dieter Leuenberger, literature and painting
- Marco Müller, Locarno Film Festival
- Merz and Bezzola, poets
- Nicole Caccivio, ballet
- Kunstmuseum Olten
- Pasqu’Art Biel / Bienne
- The Verbier Music Festival
The "Potoklinica 15" Gallery
I arranged for a gardener’s house to be converted into a studio-gallery. The studio was made available to Bosnian artists who had lost their places of work; for example Samra Mujezinovic and Dragan Andelic each worked in the studio for two months. In the gallery exhibitions with artists from Switzerland, Bosnia or elsewhere were held. A Spanish painter, a French painter and an Italian painter also found their way to the gallery. At the same location, which also includes a garden, concerts were regularly organised with students from the Sarajevo Music Academy, and there was even a fashion show.
In due course, all three suitcases and the memories of Sarajevo were with me and accessible to me once again, I could begin a new life. In London.
W. A. Brülhart leaves the Lecture Hall with the remaining suitcases.
Deborah Fink, Soprano and Dominic Saunders, Piano
Gershwin:
"Fascinating Rhythm"
from "Lady, be Good"
Puccini:
"O Mio Babbino Caro"
from "Gianni Schicchi"